Kind-of-Spring Break

The break is here, and actually, almost gone.  Although not going as planned, it has been a nice one.  We had planned to enjoy the first weekend and Monday of the break in the States, but Erika came down with a terribly deep cough.  Knowing that this cough could easily develop into something worse, we cancelled the travel to a country that does not offer universal health care.  Good thing too, as we made a trip to the dr on Monday and got antibiotics for seriously congested lungs (have turned to pneumonia in the past) and the beginnings of an ear infection.   Other than the cough, though, she's weathered fairly well.
She, however, was nice enough to share her virus and Rick and I both caught it.  Mine is almost gone (I had the chest congestion for a couple days and some stomach issues too) but Rick is still coughing that dry, itchy cough that drives you NUTS.  No amount of cough medicine, cold tablets or cough candies can get rid of that awful cough urging that robs you of all comfort and disrupts all sleep.  I feel for him immensely.  :(
The virus sweeping through our house has caused us to take a deep breath (figuratively speaking, as we literally couldn't...) and relax.  Naps, body-warming soups and lots of rest was the prescription.  We did finally get propane and fire up the BBQ, clean some clutter out of the basement, did some pre-summer shopping with Arielle, had a family cupcake party, and had amazing sushi. Not all bad!
Rick's back to work tomorrow, so his break is over.  :( I keep telling him that it would have been a lot harder to function for work with this awful cold, but it's also a little disappointing that he was feeling poorly for most of his time off. 
I didn't take any photos to share over the break, as all of us haven't been our best, but we're getting better by the day.  :)
Here's to the downhill slide to the end of the school year! Whoop!

"Spring" randomness

It's been a while since I posted.  I have no reason why, just that I've been enjoying the lull.  I finished reports and Science Fair with a bang, <insert trumpet flourish> and have been enjoying the turn of climate of the classroom as my teacher candidate takes over for a spell.
I really enjoy taking on teacher candidates.  It makes my teaching career fuller and really makes daily life interesting in the classroom.  I learn a lot from their learning, every year.  New techniques, different strategies, and other ways of teaching that they work into their routine is a trial run that I enjoy and learn a lot from.  It's good for the students as well to learn from someone different for a while; and it lets me see my class through another's eyes.  All in all, it's a very good experience.  My current teacher candidate is here until the break and then 3 weeks after until almost the end of April.

(Erika trying out "big-girl swings with her cousin)

It's feeling like spring here for now, but I'm so positive it is not going to last.  In the time that spring is here we've been enjoying trips to the park with cousins and some outdoor clean-up that is so much needed after the long winter.  Snow will return briefly (there's a call for some coming up on Monday) but then we'll be that much more ahead.  That's fine; I've really been enjoying the weather for what it is, and come what may.

Spring break is around the corner, and there's lots planned!  Rick has the break off too, and I can't wait to have some relaxing and fun times. 

WHY all on the 6th?

Ever have a few things come up in life, and although most of them are unrelated, all fall on the same day? No? Well, it really hasn't happened to me before, but today it did. 
About a month ago I booked the day that my Science Fair fell on.  I organize the grade 4-6 Science Fair for my school.  I do Science projects with all of my students, and they take forever to complete.  The fair is a celebration of that process; a chance for the students to show off all that they did and learned throughout.  5 classes participate; there were 52 projects in total.  What chaos, wonderful chaos.  I held it in the library this year, and it looked GREAT.  It was a real electric learning community and worth every minute of planning.
Needless to say, the fair was the 6th; set-up in the morning, fair all afternoon.
After school, there was a staff meeting (first Tuesday every month), also just happened to be today the 6th. Not usually a big deal, but this one went on until 5; lots to talk about.
Then there was a daycare board meeting.  (Erika's daycare board, I'm the chair) This meeting was supposed to be last week, and wasn't able to happen then.  Rescheduled for today, the 6th. Easily an hour and a half.
THEN, after the board meeting was the annual AGM for the daycare.  Sceduled 6 weeks ago, just happened to be today.  Not kidding.  As the chair, I had to give a speech.
So, to sum up, I left the house at 7:50am, entered the school at 8am and did not leave the school until 8:30pm. 
All separate events, all scheduled for the 6th.

Popular day.
So far, nothing scheduled for the 7th.  That's a relief.

ONE YEAR

Can you believe it?  It's been one year today that I started this blog, and I am still enjoying it immensely.  I really like getting my life events down in type, linking them with photos, and generally exploring my thoughts. It's been a outlet to understanding myself a little better, and enjoying the great things in my life again and again. I think that this blog will be a great memento to these years. Thanks for reading and following, and here's to Year Two!  *cheers*